Tensile properties carbon fiber

Some work has been undertaken towards the optimization of the AN/VBr precursor. The work extends into all four relevant areas, viz. polymerization, spinning, stabilization and carbonization. Although probably far from a complete optimization, considerable improvement has been obtained with regard to the key factors — stabilization time, and carbon fiber tensile properties — as compared to the screening conditions . 

RELATION OF CARBON FIBER TENSILE PROPERTIES TO PROCESS CONDITIONS... 

Nonoxide fibers, such as carbides, nitrides, and carbons, are produced by high temperature chemical processes that often result in fiber lengths shorter than those of oxide fibers. Mechanical properties such as high elastic modulus and tensile strength of these materials make them excellent as reinforcements for plastics, glass, metals, and ceramics. Because these products oxidize at high temperatures, they are primarily suited for use in vacuum or inert atmospheres, but may also be used for relatively short exposures in oxidizing atmospheres above 1000°C. 

Carbon fibers are generally typed by precursor such as PAN, pitch, or rayon and classified by tensile modulus and strength. Tensile modulus classes range from low (<240 GPa), to standard (240 GPa), intermediate (280—300 GPa), high (350—500 GPa), and ultrahigh (500—1000 GPa). Typical mechanical and physical properties of commercially available carbon fibers are presented in Table 1. 

Fu SY, Lauke B, Mader E, Yue CY, Hu X. Tensile properties of short-glass-fiber- and short-carbon-fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites. Composites Part A Applied Science and Manufacturing. 2000 31(10) 1117-25. 

Fig. 3.27. Effect of the interface shear strength on mechanical properties of carbon fiber-epoxy matrix composites ( ) tran.sverse tensile strength (A) maximum transverse tensile strain (O) transverse tensile modiilns. After Madhukar and Drzal (1991),...

Some of the best uses of Kevlar are in aircraft composites and flak jackets for military and police uses, which require high tensile strength and high modulus per unit of weight. It also has the property of damage tolerance, as it has a ductile compressive failure mode, which is very different from the brittle failure of carbon fibers. 

---